Chitosan Nanoparticle Encapsulation of Antibacterial Essential Oils

Abstract

Chitosan is the most suitable encapsulation polymer because of its natural abundance, biodegradability, and surface functional groups in the form of free NH2 groups. The presence of NH2 groups allows for the facile grafting of functionalized molecules onto the chitosan surface, resulting in multifunctional materialistic applications. Quaternization of chitosan’s free amino is one of the typical chemical modifications commonly achieved under acidic conditions. This quaternization improves its ionic character, making it ready for ionic–ionic surface modification. Although the cationic nature of chitosan alone exhibits antibacterial activity because of its interaction with negatively-charged bacterial membranes, the nanoscale size of chitosan further amplifies its antibiofilm activity. Additionally, the researcher used chitosan nanoparticles as polymeric materials to encapsulate antibiofilm agents (such as antibiotics and natural phytochemicals), serving as an excellent strategy to combat biofilm-based secondary infections. This paper provided a summary of available carbohydrate-based biopolymers as antibiofilm materials. Furthermore, the paper focuses on chitosan nanoparticle-based encapsulation of basil essential oil (Ocimum basilicum), mandarin essential oil (Citrus reticulata), Carum copticum essential oil (“Ajwain”), dill plant seed essential oil (Anethum graveolens), peppermint oil (Mentha piperita), green tea oil (Camellia sinensis), cardamom essential oil, clove essential oil (Eugenia caryophyllata), cumin seed essential oil (Cuminum cyminum), lemongrass essential oil (Cymbopogon commutatus), summer savory essential oil (Satureja hortensis), thyme essential oil, cinnamomum essential oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), and nettle essential oil (Urtica dioica). Additionally, chitosan nanoparticles are used for the encapsulation of the major essential components carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde, the encapsulation of an oil-in-water nanoemulsion of eucalyptus oil (Eucalyptus globulus), the encapsulation of a mandarin essential oil nanoemulsion, and the electrospinning nanofiber of collagen hydrolysate–chitosan with lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and dill (Anethum graveolens) essential oil.

Bioactivity of Citral and Its Nanoparticle in Attenuating Pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Controlling Drosophila melanogaster

“…These results are similar to those in the former investigation, except for results of microencapsulation efficiency of lemongrass oil using spray drying where %EE was 84.75% [35]. However, %EE of lemongrass oil encapsulated in CS nanoparticles was 44.82% AE2.80% as investigated by Negi and Kesari [36].…”

Chitosan as an Outstanding Polysaccharide Improving Health-Commodities of Humans and Environmental Protection

“…Specifically, it has been reported that the electrostatic interaction between curcumin and chitosan nanoparticles has a strong correlation with the number of intermolecular hydrogen bonds [ 48 ]. As it is well known, -NH 2 groups onto this polysaccharide allow its chemical derivatization and grafting to improve its physicochemical properties [ 49 ], where one of the objectives is to enhance the water solubility of this macromolecule, increasing the permeability of hydrophobic nutraceuticals, rising the potential of loaded particles as carriers for oral delivery [ 50 ]. Regarding mucins, which are glycoproteins that are the major constituents of the intestinal mucus layer, their interaction with the chitosan backbone depends on the properties of both (mucins and the polymer) and can occur via electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions [ 24 ]; the amino groups of chitosan can bind to the sialic acid of mucins resulting in a better mucoadhesion [ 25 ], as well as the change in the surface’s charge (from negative to positive) of chitosan could trigger an increase in the adhesion of loaded particles on the intestinal mucosa [ 25 , 51 ].…”

Perspectives on Usage of Functional Nanomaterials in Antimicrobial Therapy for Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Infections

“…It is also possible for nanomaterials to supply medicines to bacterial cells that are implanted within an EPS matrix. Carvacrol oil, oregano essential oil, and thyme essential oil are three examples of potent antimicrobial oils that are unable to or poorly penetrate biofilms . It was reported that multiple drug-resistant biofilms were successfully eradicated utilizing carvacrol in oil-in-water cross-linked polymeric nanocomposites with limited damage to mammalian cells for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria infections .…”

“…ROS are oxidative metabolic byproducts that occur within cells. These byproducts affect cells’ differentiation, signaling, survival, and death . The buildup of toxic levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes oxidative stress (Figure ).…”